Compactflash express (cfx) adapters

ABSTRACT

In some examples, an adapter includes a COMPACTFLASH EXPRESS (CFX) connector interface to connect to a CFX connector of a computer, and a device connector interface to connect to any of a plurality of different devices comprising different types of interfaces. The device connector interface includes an indicator settable to any of a plurality of different states to represent a respective type of the different types of interfaces when a device is connected to the adapter, and the CFX connector interface comprising an indicator connected to the indicator of the device connector interface.

BACKGROUND

A computer includes connectors to connect to various external devices. Aconnector can be in the form of a receptacle, a port, a socket, a plug,or any other structure useable to form an electrical and/or opticalconnection with another device. Various different connectors can beaccording to different standards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some implementations of the present disclosure are described withrespect to the following figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an arrangement according to some examples.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an adapter according to some examples.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an adapter according to further examples.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computer according to some examples.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a process according to some examples.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar,but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarilyto scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearlyillustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examplesand/or implementations consistent with the description; however, thedescription is not limited to the examples and/or implementationsprovided in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present disclosure, use of the term “a,” “an”, or “the” isintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. Also, the term “includes,” “including,”“comprises,” “comprising,” “have,” or “having” when used in thisdisclosure specifies the presence of the stated elements, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of other elements.

A computer can refer to any of various different electronic devices,including, as examples, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, atablet computer, a server computer, a smartphone, a game appliance, astorage device, a communication device, an Internet-of-Things (IoT)device, a vehicle, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch, smarteyeglasses, a head-mounted device, etc.), and so forth.

There can be a large number of different types of devices that havedifferent types of connection interfaces. It can be expensive orimpractical to include a large number of different types of connectorson a computer to connect to the different types of devices.

In some examples, a computer can include a COMPACTFLASH EXPRESS (CFX)connector that is according to the CFX standard proposed by theCompactFlash Association. As used herein, the term “CFX” stands forCFexpress. The CFX standard is defined for removable media cards thatcan be removably connected to computers and that use the Non-VolatileMemory Express (NVMe) protocol with specific CFX extensions.

In accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure, anadapter is provided to allow any of various different types of deviceswith various different types of connector interfaces to connect to a CFXconnector of a computer. By using the adapter according to someimplementations, the CFX connector of the computer can be used toconnect to any of different devices that have interfaces according todifferent standards, including devices that use the NVMe protocol aswell as other protocols (discussed further below). The adapter accordingto some examples can support any of multiple versions of CFX.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example arrangement that includes acomputer 102 that has a CFX connector 104. As used here, a “connector”can refer to a receptacle, a port, a socket, a plug, or any otherstructure useable to form an electrical and/or optical connection withanother device. The CFX connector 104 is designed to connect to a devicethat has a connector interface that is configured according to the CFXstandard.

FIG. 1 further shows an external device 106 that has a connector 108(referred to as an “external device connector 108”) that is configuredaccording to a connection standard different from the CFX standard. Forexample, the external device connector 108 can be according to a SerialAdvanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard, a PERIPHERAL COMPONENTINTERCONNECT EXPRESS (PCE-e) standard, or a different connectorstandard. The SATA standard defines a way to connect a storage device toa computer. The PCI-e standard defines a high-speed serial computerexpansion bus, which allows for a PCI-e bus of a computer to connect toany of various different types of devices that can operate according tothe PCI-e standard, including storage devices or other devices.

Although reference is made to the SATA standard and the PCI-e standardin some examples discussed herein, it is noted that in other examples,the external device connector 108 can operate according to a differentconnection standard.

In some examples, the external device 106 is a storage device, such as adisk-based drive (e.g., a magnetic disk drive or an optical diskdriver), a solid state memory device, and so forth. More generally, theexternal device 106 can refer to any type of electronic device that canperform a corresponding functionality. Examples of the external device106 can include a network interface controller (to performcommunications over a network), a graphics controller (to perform imageprocessing tasks), a wireless interface controller (to perform wirelesscommunications), and so forth.

To allow the external device 106, which is without a CFX connectorinterface, to connect to the CFX connector 104 of the computer 102, anadapter 110 is provided. The adapter 110 has a CFX connector interface112 to connect to the CFX connector 104 of the computer 102. The adapter110 further includes a device connector interface 114 to connect to theexternal device connector 108. In some examples, the device connectorinterface 114 is able to connect to any of multiple different connectorinterfaces (that are configured to according to respective differentstandards) of corresponding external devices. For examples, the deviceconnector interface of the adapter 110 is able to connect to either anSATA connector interface of an external device, or a PCI-e connectorinterface of an external device.

In a more specific example, the external device connector 108 mayconform to the M.2 Specification (formerly referred to as the NextGeneration Form Factor (NGFF) Specification). M.2 defines a physicalspecification and pin layout of an expansion card used in a computer.Connector interfaces that can be provided with the M.2 connector includethe PCI-e connector interface, a SATA connector interface, or aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) interface, as examples. In such examples, theadapter 110 is a CFX-to-M.2 adapter.

The device connector interface 114 of the adapter 110 includes a devicetype indicator 116, and the CFX connector interface 112 includes adevice type indicator 118. As depicted in FIG. 1, the device typeindicator 116 is connected over a link 120 to the device type indicator118. The link 120 can be in the form of an electrical conductor (or agroup of electrical conductors) or an optical path. An electricalconductor can include a wire, a conductive trace in a circuit board, andso forth. An optical path can include an optical fiber, an opticalwaveguide, and so forth.

As used here, an “indicator” of a connector interface can refer to a pinor a group of pins of the connector interface. A “pin” can refer to anelectrical conductive structure or an optical ferrule.

In some example, the adapter 110 can be in the form of a circuit boardon which the connector interfaces 112 and 114 are formed. The link 120can be formed within a layer (or multiple layers) of the circuit board,or can be formed on the circuit board. It is noted that there are otherlinks (not shown) to connect other pins of the connector interfaces 112and 114 with one another.

The computer 102 includes a controller 122 and a processor 124. Theprocessor 124 can include a main processor of the computer 102. Thecontroller 122 can control various functions of the computer 102,including input/output (I/O) control to control interactions withperipheral devices, such as the external device 106 connected throughthe CFX connector 104. Although not shown, the computer 102 can alsoinclude a memory, a persistent storage device, and other components. Insome examples, the controller 122 can be implemented as a PlatformController Hub (PCH), which is a chipset provided by Intel. In otherexamples, the controller 122 can be implemented as a chipset from adifferent vendor.

The device type indicator 116 of the device connector interface 114 issettable to one of a plurality of different states depending upon thetype of external device 106 connected in the adapter 110. If theexternal device 106 includes a first type of connector 108 configuredaccording to a first standard, then the device type indicator 116 is setto a first state, which causes the device type indicator 118 of the CFXconnector interface 112 to also be set to the first state. The devicetype indicator 118 of the CFX connector interface 112 produces a DEVICETYPE signal 126 (having a state corresponding to the first state) thatis input to the controller 122, which indicates that the external device106 includes the first type of connector 108 configured according to thefirst standard (e.g., the SATA standard).

If the external device 106 is a second type of external device thatincludes a second type of connector 108 configured according to a secondstandard, then the device type indicator 116 is sent to a second statedifferent from the first state, which causes the device type indicator118 to also be set to the second state, and the DEVICE TYPE signal 126to be set to a state corresponding to the second state, which indicatesthat the external device 106 includes the second type of connector 108configured according to the second standard (e.g., the PCI-e standard).

In examples where the device type indicators 116 and 118 are eachimplemented as a single pin, the first state can be a logical low valueor a logical high value, and the second state can be a logical highvalue or a logical low value, respectively. In other examples, if thedevice type indicators 116 and 118 are each implemented with multiplepins, then the first state and second state can include respectivedifferent values of the multiple pins.

In some examples, a first type of external device 106 can drive thedevice type indicator 116 to a low state or a high state. A second typeof the external device 106 can leave the device type indicator 116floating, which allows a pull-up or pull-down circuit (not shown inFIG. 1) to set the device type indicator 116 to a high state or lowstate.

In some examples, the device connector interface 114 of the adapter 110includes a device insertion indicator 128, which is coupled over a link130 of the adapter 110 to a corresponding device insertion indicator 132of the CFX connector interface 112 of the adapter 110. The deviceinsertion indicator 128 is set to a specified state if the externaldevice 106 is connected to the adapter 110. The specified state can be alow state or a high state, for example. More generally, the specifiedstate can be a specified value.

In other examples, instead of using a separate device insertionindicator 128, a device insertion indicator can be included as part ofthe device type indicator 116 such that if no external device isinserted the device type indicator 116 is set to a no device presentstate.

When the device insertion indicator 128 is set to the specified state inresponse to connection of the external device 106 to the adapter 110,the device insertion indicator 132 of the CFX connector interface 112 isset to the specified state, which drives a DEVICE INSERTION signal 134to an active state to the controller 122. The active state (active lowstate or active high state) of the DEVICE INSERTION signal 134 indicatesto the controller 122 that a device is connected into the CFX connector104.

If no device is connected to the adapter 110, or the adapter 110 withthe external device 106 is not connected in the CFX connector 104, thenthe device insertion indicators 128 and 132 are set to a state differentfrom the specified state. In response, the DEVICE INSERTION signal 134is driven to an inactive state, which indicates to the controller 122that no device is connected to the CFX connector 104.

In some examples, the controller 122 includes a flexible input/output(I/O) to selectively operate with the different types of connectors(e.g., SATA and PCI-e connectors) of different types of devices. If thecontroller 122 is connected to the external device 106 with a SATAconnector, then the controller 122 can interact according to the SATAstandard with the external device 106. On the other hand, if thecontroller 122 is connected to the external device 106 with a PCI-econnector, then the controller 122 can interact according to the PCI-estandard with the external device 106.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing some specific pins of the CFXconnector 104 according to some examples. Although a specificarrangement of pins of the CFX connector 104 is shown in FIG. 2, it isnoted that in other examples, the CFX connector 104 can include adifferent arrangement of pins. More generally, the pins of the CFXconnector 104 are defined by the corresponding CFX standard.

In the example of FIG. 2, the external device 106 is received into a bayof the adapter 110, such that a portion 202 of the external device 106protrudes from an end 200 of the adapter 110. A “bay” can refer to anystructure that is able to receive the external device 106.

In some examples, the external device connector 108 is an M.2 connector.In other examples, the external device connector 108 can be a differenttype of connector.

In FIG. 2, some of the pins of the external device connector 108 areshown. A ground (GND) pin 204 of the external device connector 108 isconnected to a corresponding GND pin 206 of the device connectorinterface 114 of the adapter 110. Similarly, a GND pin 208 of theexternal device connector 108 is connected to a corresponding GND pin210 of the device connector interface 114. Although not shown explicitlyin FIG. 2, the GND pins 206 and 210 of the device connector interface114 are connected over links to corresponding GND pins of the CFXconnector 104 through corresponding pins of the CFX connector interface112.

A GND pin 212 of the external device connector 108 is connected to anINS# pin 214 of the device connector interface 114. The INS# pin 214 isconnected over a link 216 to a corresponding INS# pin 218 of the CFXconnector 104 through a corresponding pin of the CFX connector interface112. When the external device 106 is inserted into the adapter 110 andconnected to the device connector interface 114, the GND pin 212 of theexternal device connector 108 drives the INS# pins 214 and 218 to anactive low state, which in turn drives the DEVICE INSERTION signal 134(FIG. 1) to an active low state that is detected by the controller 122of the computer 102. The active low state of the DEVICE INSERTION signal134 provides an indication to the controller 122 that the externaldevice 106 has been connected to the CFX connector 104 (through theadapter 110).

In alternative examples, if the DEVICE INSERTION signal 134 is an activehigh signal, then the INS# pin 214 of the adapter's device connectorinterface 114 can be connected to a power supply pin (e.g., +3.3V) ofthe external device connector 108. More generally, the INS# pin 214 isconnected to a specified voltage (zero volts or greater or less thanzero volts) of the external device 106.

As further depicted in FIG. 2, a PEDET pin 220 of the external deviceconnector 108 is connected to a corresponding PEDET pin 222 of theadapter's device connector interface 114. The PEDET pin 222 is in turnconnected over a link 224 to a reserved pin 236 of the CFX connector 104(through a corresponding pin of the adapter's CFX connector interface112). As used here, a “reserved” pin refers to a pin that is notcurrently defined for any specific use by the CFX standard, but isreserved for future use.

The link 224 can be connected to a pull-up circuit 228 (e.g., includinga pull-up resistor or resistors), to pull the PEDET pin 222 and thereserved pin 236 to a high state if the connected external device 106does not drive the PEDET pin 220 to a specific state (in other words,the external device 106 leaves the PEDET pin 220 floating). However, ifthe external device 106 drives the PEDET pin 220 to a specified state(e.g., a low state), then the PEDET pin 222 and the reserved pin 236 aredriven to the low state.

In other examples, instead of using the pull-up circuit 228, a pull-downcircuit can instead be used to pull the PEDET pin 222 and the reservedpin 236 to a low state if the connected external device 106 leaves thePEDET pin 220 floating.

The reserved pin 236 of the CFX connector 104 drives the DEVICE TYPEsignal 126 (FIG. 1), to provide an indication to the controller 122 ofthe type of the external device 106 connected to the adapter 110.

In FIG. 2, a power supply (+3.3V) pin 230 of the external deviceconnector 108 is connected to a +3.3V pin 232 of the adapter's deviceconnector interface 114. The +3.3V pin 232 is connected over a link 234to a reserved pin 226 of the CFX connector 104 (through a correspondingpin of the adapter's CFX connector interface 112).

In addition, a +3.3V pin 238 of the external device connector 108 isconnected to a corresponding +3.3V pin 240 of the adapter's deviceconnector interface 114. Although not shown, the +3.3V pin 240 isconnected over a link to a corresponding +3.3V pin of the CFX connector104 (through a corresponding pin of the adapter's CFX connectorinterface 112).

By using the reserved pin 226 of the CFX connector 104 to connect to apower supply pin of the external device connector 108, additional powercan be supplied by the computer 102 to the external device 106. Inimplementations where the external device 106 consumes more power thancan be supplied by a single +3.3V pin of the CFX connector 104, the useof the reserved pin 226 to supply additional power can satisfy the powerconsumption of the external device 106.

The other pins of the CFX connector 104 include reset pins, clock pins,and so forth, which can be connected to corresponding pins of theexternal device connector 108 through the adapter 110.

The CFX standard provides for staggered mating of pins, where the GNDpins mate first before the other pins when the adapter 110 (with theexternal device 106) connected, is inserted into the CFX connector 106.The INS# pin 218 of the CFX connector 104 is used for detecting theinsertion of the adapter 110 and external device 106. The reserved pin236 of the CFX connector 106 is used to distinguish between differenttypes of devices that operate according to different connectorstandards.

In some examples, the adapter 110 and the external device 106 are hotpluggable (hot insertable or hot removable) with respect to the CFXconnector 104. Hot plugging a device refers to connecting the device tothe computer 102 while power remains active in the computer 102. Oncethe adapter 110 and the external device 106 are hot inserted into theCFX connector 104, the controller 122 can detect the type of theexternal device 106 and can configure the external device 106appropriately for operation with the computer 102. Similarly, if theadapter 110 and the external device 106 are hot removed from the CFXconnector 104, the controller 122 can detect the removal and adjust aconfiguration of the computer 102 accordingly.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an adapter 300 according to some examples.The adapter 300 includes a CFX connector interface 302 (similar to 112in FIG. 1) to connect to a CFX connector (e.g., 104 of FIG. 1) of acomputer. The adapter 300 further includes a device connector interface304 (similar to 114 in FIG. 1) to connect to any of a plurality ofdifferent devices including different types of interfaces. The deviceconnector interface 304 includes an indicator 308 settable to any of aplurality of different states to represent a respective type of thedifferent types of interfaces when a device is connected to the adapter300. The CFX connector interface 302 includes an indicator 306 connectedto the indicator 308 of the device connector interface 304.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computer 400 that includes a CFXconnector 402 to connect to a CFX connector interface of an adapterincluding a device connector interface to connect to any of a pluralityof different devices including different types of interfaces. The deviceconnector interface includes an indicator settable to any of a pluralityof different states to represent a respective type of the differenttypes of interfaces when a device is connected to the adapter, and theCFX connector interface includes an indicator connected to the indicatorof the device connector interface. The computer 400 further includes acontroller 404 to perform a device type detecting task 406, whichdetects, based on a state of the indicator of the CFX connectorinterface, the respective type of interface of the device connected tothe adapter.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a process according to some examples. Theprocess includes arranging (at 502) a CFX connector interface and adevice connector interface on an adapter, the CFX connecter interface toconnect to a CFX connector of a computer, and the device connectorinterface to connect to any of a plurality of different devicesincluding different types of interfaces.

The process further includes connecting (at 504), by the adapter, anindicator of the device connector interface to a corresponding indicatorof the CFX connector interface, the indicator of the device connectorinterface settable to any of a plurality of different states torepresent a respective type of the different types of interfaces when adevice is connected to the adapter.

In the foregoing description, numerous details are set forth to providean understanding of the subject disclosed herein. However,implementations may be practiced without some of these details. Otherimplementations may include modifications and variations from thedetails discussed above. It is intended that the appended claims coversuch modifications and variations.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adapter comprising: a COMPACTFLASH EXPRESS(CFX) connector interface to connect to a CFX connector of a computer;and a device connector interface to connect to any of a plurality ofdifferent devices comprising different types of interfaces, the deviceconnector interface comprising an indicator settable to any of aplurality of different states to represent a respective type of thedifferent types of interfaces when a device is connected to the adapter,and the CFX connector interface comprising an indicator connected to theindicator of the device connector interface.
 2. The adapter of claim 1,wherein the indicator of the CFX connector interface is to connect to areserved pin of the CFX connector.
 3. The adapter of claim 1, whereinthe indicator of the device connector interface is set to a first stateresponsive to a first device comprising a first type of interfaceconnected to the adapter, and the indicator of the device connectorinterface is set to a second state different from the first stateresponsive to a first device comprising a second type of interfaceconnected to the adapter.
 4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein thedifferent types of interfaces comprise a Serial Advanced TechnologyAttachment (SATA) interface and a PERIPHERAL COMPONENT INTERCONNECTEXPRESS (PCI-e) interface.
 5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein a powerpin of the device connector interface is connected to a pin of the CFXconnecter interface that is to connect to a reserved pin of the CFXconnector.
 6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the device connectorinterface comprises a device insertion detect pin connected to a deviceinsertion detect pin of the CFX connector interface, the deviceinsertion detect pin of the device connector interface to connect to aspecified voltage of the device, the device insertion detect pin of thedevice connector interface when set to a specified state indicatinginsertion of the device in the adapter.
 7. The adapter of claim 1,wherein the indicator of the device connector interface comprises a pinof the device connector interface, and the indicator of the CFXconnector interface comprises a pin of the CFX connector interface. 8.The adapter of claim 1, further comprising a bay to receive any of theplurality of different devices.
 9. The adapter of claim 1, wherein theadapter with the device connected is hot pluggable with the CFXconnector of the computer.
 10. A computer comprising: a COMPACTFLASHEXPRESS (CFX) connector to connect to a CFX connector interface of anadapter comprising a device connector interface to connect to any of aplurality of different devices comprising different types of interfaces,the device connector interface comprising an indicator settable to anyof a plurality of different states to represent a respective type of thedifferent types of interfaces when a device is connected to the adapter,and the CFX connector interface comprising an indicator connected to theindicator of the device connector interface; and a controller to detect,based on a state of the indicator of the CFX connector interface, therespective type of interface of the device connected to the adapter. 11.The computer of claim 10, wherein the controller is to detect, based ona state of a device insertion signal, connection of the device to theadapter, the device insertion signal driven by a device insertion detectpin of the CFX connector interface that is connected by the adapter to aspecified voltage of the device.
 12. The computer of claim 10, whereinthe device and adapter are hot pluggable with respect to the computer.13. The computer of claim 10, wherein the controller comprises flexibleinput/output to selectively operate with the different types ofinterfaces of the plurality of different devices.
 14. A methodcomprising: arranging a COMPACTFLASH EXPRESS (CFX) connector interfaceand a device connector interface on an adapter, the CFX connecterinterface to connect to a CFX connector of a computer, and the deviceconnector interface to connect to any of a plurality of differentdevices comprising different types of interfaces; and connecting, by theadapter, an indicator of the device connector interface to acorresponding indicator of the CFX connector interface, the indicator ofthe device connector interface settable to any of a plurality ofdifferent states to represent a respective type of the different typesof interfaces when a device is connected to the adapter.
 15. The methodof claim 14, further comprising: electrically connecting, by theadapter, a specified voltage of the device to a device insertiondetection pin of the CFX connecter interface, the device insertiondetection pin when set to a specified state indicating insertion of thedevice in the adapter.